Astros 1 - 4 Mariners
Final
  for this game

King Felix leads Mariners into opener vs. Astros

Sep 8, 2014 - 2:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Felix Hernandez hopes to keep the Seattle Mariners in the wild card picture on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Houston Astros.

Despite a recent five-game winning streak that ended with a 1-0 loss to Texas on Sunday, the Mariners own only a half-game lead over the Detroit Tigers for the second wild card spot in the American League. The Tigers are hosting the Kansas City Royals for three games, beginning on Monday as well.

James Paxton allowed only a sacrifice fly to Adrian Beltre in the sixth inning on Sunday, but Seattle only managed six hits in failing to record a four-game sweep of the Rangers.

"We tried, guys gave good at-bats, (Justin) Smoak hit the ball right on the nose. Actually, we had several balls hit right on the nose," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "Just wasn't our day. There's no excuses, we lost."

McClendon now turns to Hernandez, who won for the first time in four starts on Wednesday with a 2-1 decision over Oakland. The right-hander yielded one run on three hits -- one a solo homer -- and two walks over eight innings.

Hernandez fanned only four, but still got the better of Oakland's Jon Lester.

"We came here to win a series and that's what we did," said Hernandez. "Going against Lester I know it's going to be tough. I just had to make good pitches."

Hernandez is 14-5 with a 2.18 earned run average on the year and 3-2 with a 2.13 ERA in six career meetings with the Astros.

Houston comes to Seattle well out of the playoff race, but Sunday's 4-3 win over Oakland did ensure the club won't reach 100 losses in a season for the first time since 2010.

The Astros plated a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead, with Jake Marisnick lifting a sac fly to tie the game and Dexter Fowler drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Jonathan Singleton and Gregorio Petit knocked in a run each for the Astros, who have won six of their last seven games.

"This is supposed to be a fun game," said Houston starter Dallas Keuchel said. "Last few years or so we haven't made it very far and that's hard on us, especially a young team. You're seeing, some of the young guys finally relax."

Houston starts Brad Peacock, who is coming off his first win since July 8. He is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last three starts, beating Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The right-hander yielded three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings. He is 4-8 with a 5.01 ERA in 25 games (21 starts) on the year.

Peacock is 2-3 with a 6.89 ERA in six meetings with the Mariners.

Seattle is 8-5 versus Houston this year.






Related News